The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-29
FLoRIDA's METROPOLIS.
Death of Negro Politician-The Rus
sell Case Continued.

JACKSONVILLE, Oct. 2S.--Rev. c. H.
Pearce. better known as Bishop Pearce, a no.
ted negro politician was buried here to-day,
At one time he welded more influence over
his race than any other man IN the South
ern States He came to Florida from the
Bahamas during the late war and located at
Tallahassee, where he held several lmpor-
tant offices in reconstruction times He
was power in politics, and aided the car
pet baggersn TO a very great extent. His
influence then over the negroes was almost
unlimited. and his plans were implicitly
carried out by them. When that element
went down he fell into obscurity and OF
late wears has been unknown.
The case against Maj. Russell for timber
depredatons continued from yesterday,
was continued in court this morning. All
the government witnesses were examined,
and the case was adjourned till Nov. II to
enable testimony to be taken for the defend
ant The case is against the firm OF Eppin-
ger q Russell, but as the former is in New
York the latter is the only one who could
be arrested 1t is stated that the govern
ment has strong case against
tn firm The milling interests OF
the firm are at Olustee. but the
warrant charges that the depredatlonS were
committed in Columbia county. Special
Timber Agent j. M Dell, of Gainesville,
made the arrest. The complaint specifies
that 400 pine trees were cut from govern
ment land.
Col c. F. Hopkins, who was injured in
Yesterdays accident on the Florida Railway
and Navigation road, is doing very well,
but is still in precarlous condition. Inc
muscles of his back are badly Sprained, and
other injuries are report d. If fever and
Inflammation car be kept down, the doctors
,,,;n 10 bAraf,,l IL tho other ln1nrnI here
are doing well and will be out in week.
ENFORCING LICENSE TAXES.
The license tax is working up the bust
ness men here to quite a pitch of-well,
profanity would nearly express their feel
ings if not their opinions. One hundred
and seventy-fve copies of arrests were
issued Yesterday against those backward in
paving this tax Several Of them appeared
before the court this morning, but as the
extra cost tax expenses of 81 30
was added to EACH they all
refused to pay, and said they would employ
counsel and fight it, This bright creation"
of the last Legislature makes it a INSIDE
meanor for any person to carry on or con
duct any business for which license is re-
uuired without first obtaining such license,
and it also provides that it shall be the
special duty of the Tax Collectors and
County Judges to report to the Comptroller
and States Attorney any violations OF this
law.
The safe in a business Office on Bay street
was mysteriOusly robbed last night. The
front door of the Office was locked this
morning when the store was opened, and
the safe door also was locked. But never
theleSs the sad fact remained that S224 III
Uncle Sam's promises to pay had disap-
peared during the night Certain parties
arc suspected and the police
have them ION the list" The safe is an
old fashioned one and opened with an iron
fiat KEY No violence was used, and it is
suspected that the party under espionage
had access to the key. There is some mys-
terry to the affair, and the party in charge
desired the name suppressed, as it would aid
in the arrest of the party suspected.